Protective environment for keyboard actuatable switches

ABSTRACT

Relates generally to the production of electricial signals from a keyboard, each key of which is individually operatively associated with a switching device whose activation to electrical conductive condition is controlled by the displacement of the key. These switches are hermetically sealed from the atmosphere and are electrically scanned in succession at relatively high speeds and at a repetitious rate such that several scanning cycles occur during the normal activation of a selected key. The keyboard mechanism also includes a shift register having one more bit position than the number of switch devices and into which a bit is introduced into the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;one&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position at the instant the scan encounters a closed switch of the keyboard. This bit is then shifted through the register in timed relation to the scan of the remaining key switches and unloaded into the last bit position of the register. A detector senses the presence of a bit in both the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;one&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position and the last position of the shift register and upon detection of a bit solely in the one position it delivers a signal indicative of the character represented by the actuated key and upon detecting bits in the two extreme positions of the shift register it nullifies the delivery of such a signal.

[ Aug. 13, 1974 PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR KEYBOARD ACTUATABLE SWITCHES [75] Inventor: William G. Klelim, Jrn, Farmington,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Mar. 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 337,374

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 119,490, March 1, 1971, Pat.

[52] U.S. Cl. 200/5 A, 200/159 B, 200/168 G, 200/172 R [51] Int. Cl. H0lh 13/70, l-lOlh 9/04 [58] Field of Search 200/1 R, 5 R, 5 A, 159 R, 200/159 B, 172 R, 172 A, 166 C, 168 G; 340/365 R, 365 C; 235/145 R; 197/98, 102

Primary Examiner-James R. Scott Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ralzemond B. Parker; Edwin W. Uren; Kenneth L. Miller [57] ABSTRACT Relates generally to the production of electricial signals from a keyboard, each key of which is individually operatively associated with a switching device whose activation to electrical conductive condition is controlled by the displacement of the key. These switches are hermetically sealed from the atmosphere and are electrically scanned in succession at relatively high speeds and at a repetitious rate such that several scanning cycles occur during the normal activation of a selected key. The keyboard mechanism also includes a shift register having one more bit position than the number of switch devices and into which a bit is introduced into the one position at the instant the scan encounters a closed switch of the keyboard. This bit is then shifted through the register in timed relation to the scan of the remaining key switches and unloaded into the last bit position of the register. A detector senses the presence of a bit in both the one position and the last position of the shift register and upon detection of a bit solely in the one position it delivers a signal indicative of the character represented by the actuated key and upon detecting bits in the two extreme positions of the shift register it nullifies the delivery of such a signal.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENIEBA B 1 31m 3. 829.632 Wm M a 1 Y I I I no 22 2o 26 40- I LOAD g1chKEY (en/ms) w I BOOT PRELOAD PLUNGER-FOIL i" CONTACT O r 1 I I .000 I .OQO I .980 I .IZO J60 .020 .060 .EOO J40 J70 DEFLECTE (lNCHES) PATENIED mm 3 I924 7BIIT BINARY CLOCK I 60 COUNTER RESET CODED *1)- "D- KEYBOARD OUTPUT BINARY T0 DECIWM CONVERTE PATENIED AUG '2 31m KBOAD 40 J WWW PROTECTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR KEYBOARD ACTUATABLE SWITCHES This is a division of application Ser. No. 119,490, filed Mar. 1, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,536.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to that field of art pertaining to the keyboard generation of data and more particularly to a keyboard mechanism in which key actuated entries in one notation, such as a decimal, are converted and transduced into electrical signals in another notation, such as binary.

Many forms of mechanical and electrical read-out circuits have been suggested in the past for keyboards for assuring contact engagement or circuit closed condition and for precluding erroneous keyboard entries from being printed or otherwise utilized. Attempts have been made in the past for electrically scanning the keyboard actuated switches in succession in order to readout the actuated key of the keyboard and provide an electrical signal representative thereof. One such keyboard scanning mechanism is disclosed in the U.S. patent to Schafer No. 2,989,729 which discloses the application of at least two complete electrical scan signals of the conditions of the keyboard switches before a signal utilization device can be actuated thus assuring that the actuated switch will remain in circuit completing condition for the duration of the first signal and part of the second signal. A second generally related keyboard circuit is disclosed in the U.S. patent to Schrem No. 3,454,147 where provision is made for storing a signal generated by an actuated key in a corresponding position in a static storage register until a key generating a preceding signal has returned to its normal starting position. Other related keyboard sender circuits are disclosed in the U.S. patent to James No. 3,308,918, Burch et al. No. 3,377,622 and Houcke No. 3,457,368.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An important object of this invention is to provide an improved keyboard mechanism in which the keys are individually associated with actuatable electric switches and in which the switches are repetitively electrically scanned at a high rate to eliminate any failure conditions associated with the switches and for producing a signal representative of an actuated key for making one print or other utilization regardless of the number of times the actuated switch is scanned.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved scanning circuit for successively repetitively scanning a set of switches in succession by providing one read-out of a sensed closed switch in the set.

Another important object of the invention is to provide an improved keyboard mechanism which allows complete closure of a selected keyboard switch and provides a protective environment for the key actuated switches which enhances the usable life of the switch contact surfaces.

More specifically, the objects of the invention are effectively and economically carried out in cooperation with the use of the keyboard scanning technique in conjunction with a protective environment for the switch closure devices. Included in such a mechanism is a shift register which operates in timed relation to the scanning rate and which introduces a bit at one end and progressively shifts the same through the register to the other end in timed coincidence with the scan of the keyboard. Two extreme positions of the shift register are utilized for determining whether a print read-out or other utilization is to be made or whether such operation should be precluded. Included in the read-out circuit is a detector for sensing the condition of the extreme bit positions of the register and functioning to permit the read-out when a bit is sensed only in the first position of the shift register and to nullify the read-out if bits are sensed in both extreme positions of the shift register.

The above listed objects, advantages and other meritorious objects of the invention will be fully explained in the following detailed description. For a more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one corner portion of the keyboard mechanism constructed in accordance with this invention and being partly broken away to disclose interior parts thereof;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the keyboard mechanism showing a plural number of actuatable keys and illustrating one of the keys in depressed position closing an electrical contact therewithin, certain elements of the mechanism forming a hermetically sealed chamber being shown in exaggerated thickness;

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the varying resistance to key actuation;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the circuit in genera] for scanning the switch devices of the keyboard and for converting binary signals to decimal signals; and

FIG. 5 is a similar schematic view showing in more detail the code converter portion of the keyboard circuitry with reference to the remaining parts of the circuit.

A preferred embodiment of the invention may be considered as being divided into two major categories, one essentially structural and the other electronic. FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the physical aspects of the embodiment, and FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically represent the electrical circuits involved. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the keys of the keyboard act through thin flexible members to bring two electrically conductive surfaces into contact to close a circuit. The base member of the keyboard is preferably a printed circuit board 10 of rectangular shape having electrically conductive or printed wiring 12 on the upper surface thereof, which as shown in FIG. 1 may extend at least to one marginal portion thereof. Superposing the board is a relatively thick, rigid layer or block of electrical insulating material. A plurality of depressible keys are mounted in the insulating block or layer 14, each key including a key stem 16 and a key top 17. Interposed between the board and block are two very thin flexible layers of material, the upper one is shown at 18 and may be wholly electrically conductive, such as a beryllium copper foil, and the lower one is shown at 20 and is a thin perforated electrically insulating sheet. such as a flexible plastic sheet sold under the name of Kapton. For purposes of clarity the thicknesses of the several flexible layers and printed wiring are considerably exaggerated in FIG. 1, it being understood that these elements are extremely thin. The foil 18 may be approximately 0.005 inch and the insulating sheet 20 may be in the order of 0.001 inch.

In properly assembled condition, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the perforations 22 in flexible sheet 20 are registerable with the key stems so that the conductive foil 18, and preferably gold plated surface areas 19 thereof, can be brought into contact with similarly plated pads 24 forming part of the conductive wiring on the printed circuit board 10. Forming a border around the printed circuit board is an electrically conductive frame 26 which is interleaved between the conductive sheet 18 and the insulation sheet 20. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the conductive sheet 18 may be maintained at the same potential as the conductive frame 26. The printed wiring on the board will noit mally be at a different potential. However, upon de pression of a key, it will distort the immediate area of the sheet 18 through an aligned hole 22 in the insulating sheet 20 and into engagement with the aligned pad on the printed circuit board, thus modifying the potential of the printed wire associated with the pad and the depressed key and thereby distinguishing the wire or lead for that pad from all others on the board.

Before referring more particularly to FIG. 2, each key is yieldingly urged to its raised position by a resilient member in the form of a partially collapsible boot 28 which assumes the shape of a tapered collar encircling the upper portion of key stem and engages the underside of the key top with which it is associated. The bottom end of each key stem terminates in a diaphragm 30 formed of resilient material which is also partially collapsible when a key is depressed. Each diaphragm carries a thickened tapered protrusion 32 on the underside thereof which when its associated key is depressed as illustrated by a depressed key in FIG. 2 will force the immediate area of the conductive sheet 18 through the adjacent hole 22 of the insulating sheet and into engagement with the aligned pad 24 of the printed circuit board. When the activating force for depressing a selected key is removed, its associated boot 28 and diaphragm 30 will cooperate to urge the key to its inactive raised position.

As illustrated by the graph in FIG. 3, each boot 28 applies an initial load on its respective key stem and progressively increases its resistance to the depression of the key for about a quarter of the total travel of the stem. Thereafter the resistance of each boot decreases. However, when foil contact is made the resistance of the diaphragm 30 comes into play and together with the boot applies a progressively increasing resistance to the force acting to depress the key. The general saddleshape of the resistance graph in FIG. 3 is indicative of a desirable key-touch.

An important feature of the invention is the provision for hermetically sealing the flexible sheets and all but the extremities of the leads 12 from the atmosphere and particularly from the deteriorating effects of oxygen. For this purpose the thin flexible layers 18 and 20 and the conductive frame 26 are bonded to one another in overlapping relation and t the four marginal portions of the printed circuit board to form a hermetically sealed chamber within which the electrical contacts are housed. An inert gas, such as argon, is substituted for air in the sealed chamber. The inert gas prevents oxidation of the metallic parts within the chamber which would otherwise occur in an atmospheric environment.

Referring specifically to the FIGS. 4 and where the electronic features are illustrated, a keyboard 40 of 100 manually depressible keys, such as previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2, is associated with an open ended shift register 42 consisting of 101 flip flops capable of cycling a bit therethrough at the rate of approximately 20 milliseconds. Associated with each key of the keyboard is an AND gate, the complete set of said AND gates for the keys being illustrated in a binary to decimal converter generally indicated at 44 in FIG. 4 and in detail in the bottom portion of FIG. 5. Each AND gate 45 is individually associated with a key stem 16 and depression thereof will close the output of its associated gate. The 100 AND gates of the keyboard are serially scanned at the'clock rate established for the system. The scanning of the keyboard always .starts with the same key and runs through the bank of keys in the same order, with the result that the value of any depressed key is entered into the one position of the shift register 42 at the time its AND gate is scanned. For example, if the number eight key of the keyboard is depressed, it will not be read out of the keyboard until the eighth AND gate 45 is scanned at which instant it will be entered as a bit into the first flip flop of the register 42. Thereafter, as the scanning of the keyboard continues, this bit will be shifted through the register 42 and unloaded into the 101st position thereof before it exits from the shift register.

The presence of a bit in the first position of the shift register will be sensed and fed to the input side of an AND gate 46 by means of a path 48. An output will appear on the output path 50 of the AND gate 46 when concurrent signals of the same sign appear on three inputs to the gate, namely, the strobe line 52, the line 48 connected to the first position in the shift register, and

the output of an inverter 54 the input of which is connected by path 56 to the 101st position of the shift register 42. The read-out pulse from the AND gate 46 will pass through an inverter 58 to a series of seven AND gates 60 which also have their inputs connected to the outputs of a 7-bit binary counter 62 which serves as the source of scanning pulses for successively feeding pulses to the AND gates 45 of the binary to decimal converter 44 in the numerical order of the keys and which concurrently delivers binary coded pulses representative of each scanned key to certain of the set of AND gates 60.

The binary to decimal converter unit 44 successively delivers a pulse to each of the pairs of contacts in the hermetically sealed portion of the printed circuit board and finding a closed pair of contacts as a result of the depression of a selected key, the pulse delivered to such pair of contacts will be conveyed to the one position of the shift register 42. As shown in FIG. 4, such a delivered pulse is sent to two inputs of the shift register identified S and *R" the former by way of in verter 64 and'the latter by branch line 66. The presence of a bit in the one" position of a shift register will cause the delivery of a pulse on the output line 50 communicating with all of the AND gates 60, and the arrival of this output coincident with the counting of the binary counter 62 will signify in coded form the value or character of the actuated key. However, as explained herebelow, this signal will only occur once during the depression of a key even though pulses derived from successive scans continue to pass through the closed pair of contacts of the actuated key.

A feature of the circuit resides in the provision for preventing repetitive signaling of the character associated with an actuated key even though successive scanning pulses are passed therethrough. Because of the very high speed of the scan, a key will normally be actuated for several cycles of the scan. If a signal is received by the AND gate 46 from the first position of the shift register but not from the 101st position, a print out of the character of the depressed key will be made as previously explained. However, if signals are concurrently received by the AND gate 46 from both the first and 101st positions of the shift register, indicating the presence of a bit in each of these positions, then in that event because of the inversion of the signal from the 101st position an output signal on line 50 will not occur when AND gate 46 is strobed. This provides only one print out for each depressed key and prevents any further printing from the depressed key unless a special repeat key is actuated for this purpose. In other words, the circuit will prevent a read-out to the printer because of the concurrent presence of a bit in the first and last positions of the shift register.

Expressed more succinctly than earlier described herein, the shift register 42 is comprised of N+l positions or flip flops where N is the number of keys in the keyboard. The outputs of the one and NH positions of the shift register are fed as the inputs to the gating circuitry. When a key is depressed its activation will be detected during a scanning cycle. The instant the activation is detected a bit" will be entered into the one" position of the shift register. As the scanning continues the bit will be shifted through the register to the last flip flop or the N+l position. The scanning is such that a key will normally remain depressed for more than one scan cycle. If a bit appears simultaneously at both the one position and N+l position of the shift register, the gating circuitry will inhibit the 4 record printing or read-out of the character of the depressed key. Thus, unless it is desired, only one print out of each depressed key will occur.

As suggested hereinabove, the circuit may have provision for repeating the printing of a character while a key is depressed. This is illustrated schematically on the block diagrams of FIGS. 4 and 5 and requires for this purpose the actuation of a special control key 68 characterized as Repeat Enable and certain circuit components and connections represented by two AND gates '70 and 72 and their respective inputs. The inputs of AND gate '70 are connected individually to the outputs of the binary to decimal converter unit 44 and the AND gate 72 has an input controlled by the repeat key. When this key is actuated, the character could be repetitively printed either for the time the selected key is held down or until a certain count is reached.

It is believed that the operation of the mechanism is generally understood fromthe preceding description. Suffice to say that the binary counter 62 successively generates in timed relation to the basic clock rate the numerals from one to 100 pulses in binary notation and delivers such pulsed data to the set of AND gates 60 and also to the code converter unit 44 where the pulses are converted to decimal notation and fed successively to the matrix of AND gates 45 illustrated in FIG.

5. The gates 45 are arranged in columns in numerical order and the first or one" gate position IS shown in the lower right corner of the matrix and that position and the immediately adjacent positions are numbered I," 2, 3, 4, etc. The columns of gates 45 are sequentially scanned in an upward direction and from right to left starting with the first or one position proceeding through the columns to the last or 100th position and shown in the left most column. The scan is repeated over and over again at the relatively high scan rate of twenty milliseconds so that during the normal actuation of a key in the keyboard it will be scanned a plurality of times before being released. However, only the first scan of the actuated key will produce an intelligence signal on the outputs of the set of AND gates 60, the remaining scans being ineffective because of the presence of a bit in the 101 or N+1 position of the shift register at the time the next scan introduces a bit into the one position of the register. In other words, if a bit is found to be present the last bit position of the shift register in timed coincidence with the commencement of the next scan of the keyboard an effective output from the keyboard circuit is nullified.

The schematic views of the circuit illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 include the clock and reset circuits for assuring repetitive cycling of the scan. During the actuation of a key, pulses from the code converter 44 are fed simultaneously to the S and R inputs of the shift register 42. Upon release of the actuated key and the opening of the pair of contacts associated therewith, the operation of the shift register is discontinued although both the binary counter 62 and the code converter 44 may continue to operate.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood, of course, that it is not desired that the invention be limited thereto since modifications may be made, and it is therefore contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A keyboard assembly including, in combination:

a base panel member of electrically insulating material carrying on the upper surface thereof a thin pattern of electrically conductive elements;

a second panel member of electrically insulating material superposing the base panel member in slightly spaced apart relationship thereto;

a first impervious flexible sheet interposed between the two members and encompassing an area approximating the same, the edges of the impervious sheet effectively sealingly engaging the marginal portions of the base panel member to form a sealed chamber therebetween extending to the marginal portions of the base member;

a plurality of actuatable keys carried by the second panel member having key stems extending downwardly therethrough and each being capable of reciprocal movement in the direction of its stem, each such key being depressible when actuated and thus to cause the lower end of its associated key stem to enter the space between the members and engage and depress the impervious sheet;

a second flexible sheet of electrically insulating material interposed between the first impervious flexible sheet and the pattern of conductive elements on the upper surface of the base panel member and normally separating the first impervious sheet and the base member from one another, the second flexible sheet having perforations in alignment with the pairs of contacts and the key stems; and a plurality of pairs of normally spaced apart electrical contacts in the sealed chamber each pair of which is individually associated with a key of the keyboard and aligns with the key stern thereof, one contact of each pair of contacts forming one of the printed conductive elements of the base member and the other contact of each pair of contacts forming part of the surface of the first flexible sheet confronting the base member, each pair of contacts being brought into engagement with one another in response to the depressive movement of the associated key of the keyboard and the resulting deflection of the immediate area of the first flexible sheet through the aligned perforation of the second flexible sheet. 2. A keyboard assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the lower end of each stem of each key of said plurality of actuatable keys terminates in a diaphragm of resilient material forming a hollow body which is partially collapsible when the lower end of the key encounters resistance to its depression, the diaphragm of each key carrying a thicker solid tapered protrusion on the underside thereof which when the key is depressed will force the immediate area of the flexible sheet bearing electrically conductive contacts through the aligned perforation of the electrically insulating sheet and into engagement with the electrically conductive element aligning therewith and carried by the base panel member of the assembly.

3. A keyboard assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein the upper end of each key stem terminates in a key top and wherein a resilient collapsible boot encircles the upper end of the key stem in engaging relationship to the key top and yieldingly urges the key stem to its raised position with respect to the keyboard assembly. 

1. A keyboard assembly including, in combination: a base panel member of electrically insulating material carrying on the upper surface thereof a thin pattern of electrically conductive elements; a second panel member of electrically insulating material superposing the base panel member in slightly spaced apart relationship thereto; a first impervious flexible sheet interposed between the two members and encompassing an area approximating the same, the edges of the impervious sheet effectively sealingly engaging the marginal portions of the base panel member to form a sealed chamber therebetween extending to the marginal portions of the base member; a plurality of actuatable keys carried by the second panel member having key stems extending downwardly therethrough and each being capable of reciprocal movement in the direction of its stem, each such key being depressible when actuated and thus to cause the lower end of its associated key stem to enter the space between the members and engage and depress the impervious sheet; a second flexible sheet of electrically insulating material interposed between the first impervious flexible sheet and the pattern of conductive elements on the upper surface of the base panel member and normally separating the first impervious sheet and the base member from one another, the second flexible sheet having perforations in alignment with the pairs of contacts and the key stems; and a plurality of pairs of normally spaced apart electrical contacts in the sealed chamber each pair of which is individually associated with a key of the keyboard and aligns with the key stem thereof, one contact of each pair of contacts forming one of the printed conductive elements of the base member and the other contact of each pair of contacts forming part of the surface of the first flexible sheet confronting the base member, each pair of contacts being brought into engagement with one another in response to the depressive movement of the associated key of the keyboard and the resulting deflection of the immediate area of the first flexible sheet through the aligned perforation of the second flexible sheet.
 2. A keyboard assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the lower end of each stem of each key of said plurality of actuatable keys terminates in a diaphragm of resilient material forming a hollow body which is partially collapsible when the lower end of the key encounters resistance to its depression, the diaphragm of each key carrying a thicker solid tapered protrusion on the underside thereof which when the key is depressed will force the immediate area of the flexible sheet bearing electrically conductive contacts through the aligned perforation of the electrically insulating sheet and into engagement with the electrically conductive element aligning therewith and carried by the base panel member of the assembly.
 3. A keyboard assembly in accordance with claim 2 wherein the upper end of each key stem terminates in a key top and wherein a resilient collapsible boot encircles the upper end of the key stem in engaging relationship to the key top and yieldingly urges the key stem to its raised position with respect to the keyboard assembly. 